Valentine’s Day. Depending on your mood it is either the best, worst or most irrelevant holiday of the year. Trust me I’ve thought all 3 at various points in my life. Now I choose to think of Valentine’s Day as a great excuse to dress-up and surprise the people in your life who think you live in cardigans and flats. But honestly, the one thing in my wardrobe that I pretty much do live in are my jeans. So how do you dress up your jeans for that Valentine’s night out? Firstly, a little red or lace to be festive isn’t a bad way to start. Just keep it subtle or run the risk of looking like the doily Valentine’s you made in elementary school. Floral is another nice, feminine detail that works great for this holiday but should be kept understated.
So now that there are some ideas on what to wear to be festive, how do you put this together into a coherent look? If you’re not going to a super fancy wear-a-cocktail-dress-or-else dinner than a dark wash jean is a great place to start building your outfit. For a more formal meal I chose a rinse trouser jean because the looser leg style is a classic silhouette for an evening out. Instantly dress up your trouser jeans with a beaded vintage-look top and a pair of delicate sparkled heels. Grab a red purse and favorite special occasion earrings and you’re ready for a nice Valentine’s Day dinner out, without a single heart in sight.
If you’re headed out to more low-key dinner but still want to dress up (I mean it is a holiday) I would again suggest starting off with a dark wash jean. Since the setting is less reserved I opted for a skinny black jean to start my look. Pair a floral silk top with a hint of red as a nod to the holiday. With a bright statement belt and a chunky chain necklace you won’t need any more accessories. The finishing touch is a pair of funky suede platforms in a reddish tone to echo the blouse and complete your Valentine’s Day outfit.
As we get into January it’s easy to give up on style. The holiday parties are over, the days are cold and gray, being comfortable and warm become the only priorities. But believe it or not, if you keep a few key accessories around, spicing up your wardrobe can be done in the amount of time it takes for your car to warm up. Here are some sets we made with indi jeans on Polyvore to illustrate just how easy it is to stay fashionable without sacrificing comfort through all these cold days. Starting with the basic after the holidays jeans and do-I-look-thin-in-this-black-shirt here are some ideas to help you get through till spring.
Rather than settle for your classic black or navy (or charcoal gray etc.) peacoat, opt for something with a little more flair. There are so many options out there in every price range, it’s easy to add some fun to your errand runs with a statement coat to chase away the winter blues.
But once you get to your (hopefully warm) destination, wearing a bold piece layered over your black shirt will keep you looking put together. Choose an accessory you are comfortable wearing that also makes a strong statement. Whether it is a printed wrap or a waist defining belt with fun detailing, accessories can instantly up your style factor.
Don’t limit your creativity to the ideas listed here. These are just a few examples to get you back into your style groove. Mix things up with some jeweled or feathered headbands, or a boldly detailed handbag. So don’t surrender to winter, experiment with layers and have fun with eye-catching and colorful pieces!
How do you keep your style going in the winter months?
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on January 18, 2011 at 4:18 pm
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With the beginning of 2011, we should all take a moment and reflect back on 2010 denim trends—both good and bad. To give you a quick recap, we’ve compiled a list of denim worthy moments…some we think are inspiring, some we think are intriguing and some will keep us coming back for more.
Expanding our Denim Horizons
The best trend by far this year would be the look that flatters your body the best. In the 2010 denim world, anything goes as long as it works for your body—skinny jeans, flare jeans, boot-cut jeans, trouser, etc. This notion prompted many denim brands to introduce various jean options after realizing that every body is different and not every style is intended to fit everyone. An influx of petite and tall options for women also have popped up at larger retailers like Gap and Banana Republic.
Of course, this isn’t anything groundbreaking. In fact, some of us have known this for quite some time. As you know, we’ve made it our philosophy to create jeans that are made to work for your body. And it’s nice to know that some brands are catching on to this philosophy by finally creating more sizes and more styles for everyone.
Another big trend this year was printed denim, which certainly expanded everyone’s denim horizons to include animal prints, flower prints, you name it. Not flattering for most, but certainly a trend worth mentioning.
The Big Comebacks
Everyone loves a comeback story. Some denim trends that were left behind in the past have made their big comebacks in 2010. Denim trends in the past are not always bad—some just need to be updated in order to look fresh and modern. Case in point: the denim on denim look. By wearing distinctly different denim top and denim bottom, you can create a classic American style that looks put together without trying too hard. Cargo jeans are also another big comeback this year. This time around however, the cargos are skinny, not baggy and wide, with smaller pockets on each side for a more feminine silhouette.
Which is not to say, of course, that wide leg jeans didn’t make their very own come back. Wide-leg jeans, from low to high rises, was a huge 2010 denim trend as well.
Odd Denim Sightings
During the winter Olympics past February, the US snowboarding team was spotted crossing the finish line wearing denim jeans! This is definitely an odd place to wear jeans but its presence in sports, especially snowboarding, has only cranked up the denim’s cool factor.
And finally, in the era of the snuggie where comfort rules, someone invented jeans that are supposedly made for comfort…in this case, maybe a little too much comfort. The “pajama jeans” are made out of cotton and spandex, but was designed to look like jeans and of course, feel like sweat pants. Everyone loves clothes that are comfortable but when your jeans start resembling sweat pants, we doubt that you’re actually making a conscious effort to look nice so we should draw the line here people and leave this trend behind.
Whatever caught your attention in 2010, we know that this New Year will bring more note-worthy moments in the denim realm and we’ll be here, waiting to write about it. With that said, Happy 2011 Denim Lovers!
posted by: Eunice Tanos on December 30, 2010 at 3:28 pm
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In cities all over the world, the Americana trend is taking off. Americana is defined as a collection of “books, papers, maps, etc., relating to America, esp. to its history, culture, and geography.” (Random House Dictionary 2010). More and more current trends are reflecting this nostalgic feel, a “Depression-era” aesthetic with workwear and military influences. Also the fashion pendulum is swinging back, after several years of dark washes, fashionistas are returning to the medium to light wash. While dark denim, with its body flattering properties, will never be out of style, lighter denim in a modern cut is one simple way to update your wardrobe without breaking the bank. We made some sets on Polyvore to illustrate some ideas on how to wear both trends, without looking like you stepped out of history!
Pair these light wash jeans with a plaid shirt and lace up boots and you’ve got an all-American look for winter that’s simple and, while on trend this year, will remain a classic look.
For cold days a Fair-Isle sweater, one with a colorful geometric design named for one of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, is a piece that will be right at home with the vintage country trends for this winter. This design was first popularized back in the 1920s when it was worn by the Duke of Windsor. Since you probably aren’t going for the great-grandfather look the key is to keep the vintage silhouette slim. Make sure that either the jeans or your top (or both!) are body-conscious to keep the look modern.
Elbow patches on sweaters, jackets or shirts are also a workwear trend that is resurfacing. These patches were originally worn to extend the life of clothing after the elbows wore out (or preemptively sewed on to prevent this occurrence). Adding this small detail is a fun way to try out the trend without taking it too far.
Here in San Francisco, along with an awesome World Series win (Go Giants!), we are enjoying some lovely 75 degree November days; which then drop to 50 degrees at night. This makes jeans the perfect item to wear at any time of day. I know many other places experience this weather as well, so how do you style jeans to go from one extreme to the other?
Jeans are a current staple in most women’s wardrobes. But, most importantly, it’s about as easy to style jeans as it is a plain white t-shirt. First, choose what style jeans you like best, from there you have a blank canvas on which to create plenty of outfits. I created a few sets on Polyvore to demonstrate how to style jeans several different ways. I chose skinny jeans because I consider them my most basic style jeans, but any pair you prefer will do.
Pair whatever style jeans you choose with a blouse with fun detailing, like these horizontal stripes, and then add heels for height and a neutral jacket for a put together, grown up look. On you way to work you can wear the short sleeve blouse and (since I do a lot of walking) the skinny style jeans are perfect for a little cuff to make them more warm-weather friendly. By the time I head home, the temperature is rapidly cooling, so the jacket and the jeans uncuffed are perfect.
Another way to style jeans to take you from warm days to cool evenings is an oversized sweater over a loose printed tank top. This is one of my favorite ways to be weather appropriate because it is so comfortable. Again you can choose whatever style jeans you prefer, but because of the bulky proportion on top, a leaner look on bottom would be a nice contrast. During the day wear the tank top (long and loose so you don’t look like you’re in high school) with some nice statement jewelry and some polished flats, a nice dark wash-style jeans will also keep this look from being too young. When the weather cools down, pull on the over-sized sweater (I prefer a slightly shorter, cropped sweater to showcase the tank top) and a loose knit cap, and you’ll be ready to go.
Any way you choose to style jeans to be weather appropriate, keep in mind that layers are the easiest and most flattering way to be ready for any temperature. Try designing your perfect style jeans for this time of year at indiDenim.
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on November 4, 2010 at 1:50 pm
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Here’s a fact: it’s not very often that Bay Area sports teams make it all the way to the playoffs each year. We are not spoiled like the rest of the cities out there so when something big happens, you better believe that we show our full support. This season, the San Francisco Giants secured a spot in the playoffs.You can rest assured (if it weren’t for the sky rocket ticket prices) that there isn’t any other place I’d rather be than watch them play at AT&T park.
This notion however got me thinking…if I were to go see the Giants play in person, what would I wear? Of course, jeans would be my personal go to ticket item. Nothing could be better than wearing some comfortable jeans for those moments you have to stand up and sit down repeatedly to see Cody Ross hit that home run or Tim Lincecum strike others out. Besides, it would be a little ridiculous to wear a dress or a skirt to a baseball game anyway. However, it’s just as important (at least for me anyway) to still balance my blaring orange attire and baseball cap with a cute combination of accessories and good taste. To give you a better idea, I made my own outfit Polyvore set that you can check out to inspire you to be sporty chic too here :
Sporting an overwhelming amount of orange and black (for the Giants and Halloween of course), the accent piece here is my asymmetrical leather jacket. Casual enough for a game with some fashionista flare, the jacket balances the casual nature of my comfortable black bootcut jeans and converses. The key here is to wear what you would normally wear to a game, but keep your apparel well-fitted (no frumpy jeans, ladies) and pick one classier accent piece to set the outfit off.
So to all you Bay Area sports fans out there, just like us at indiDenim, we’d like to say Goooo Giants! And good fashion choices…
posted by: Eunice Tanos on October 20, 2010 at 5:55 pm
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Jorts (alias: jean shorts) are our friends. Either that, or they’re our mortal enemies—It’s hard to tell. In any case, jorts never leave us for long; they seem to go in and out of style faster than Kanye West can embarrass himself.
If you are fan of jorts, you may want to join the Facebook group, I Love Jorts!, which fawns, “Spreading like the sexiest plague to ever wipe out lameness, jorts are a potent mixture of denim and leg.” Those who disagree can retort by uploading their latest photo evidence to nojorts.com, an anti-jort website.
As you can see, jorts are a controversial garment, one that indiDenim will have to take a purely neutral stand on. The rest of you can duke it out…
For those jorts fans out there who prefer a little bit more coverage, there is a wide variety of styles to consider.
Jeremy Priven shows us how to rock a bermuda jort.
Cuffing can give your old jorts a brand new look.
Cutoffs will take you from jeans to jorts in no time flat.
And don’t forget one of the newest additions to the jorts family—“pockouts”!
posted by: danielle on August 12, 2010 at 10:22 am
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As much as we’re obsessed with everything denim, indi is all about customization. Consumers today expect increasingly more personalized products, customized to their style preferences and, when it comes to apparel, their bodies. In the world of customization there are two major camps: custom-made (i.e. a traditional custom tailor) and mass customization, which enables consumers to design their own individual products that are then manufactured on an efficient, massive scale, keeping prices competitive with non-custom products.
indi was recently approached by Custommade.com, a website dedicated to everything custom and specializing in artisan custom-made furniture and woodwork. In the spirit of custom, we did an interview with Custom Made to share two perspectives of customization with you, showing the ins and outs of custom from different approaches yet with a fundamentally similar end goal: matching consumers with products that reflect who they are. We hope this interview will give you insight into indi, how this trend is evolving and where customization is headed in the future. Enjoy!
Question 1: What is your company all about?
indiDenim: indi is about changing the way apparel is sold. Traditionally, consumers have been expected to buy clothes that were made for the masses, not a unique garment specifically made to fit their bodies and style aesthetic. At indi, we believe in giving every consumer the power to design their own apparel and customize it to fit their unique bodies. We are also about making shopping a technologically-enhanced, seamless process. From the online visualization of our custom products to our completely automated systems for pattern generation and order processing, indi is technologically advanced throughout the consumer experience and behind the scenes.
CustomMade: President Mike Salguero’s words say it best! “In my travels I have come across some incredibly talented custom woodworkers, craftspeople and artisans who are unable to focus on their craft because they are running a business. Their dedication to their art is compromised by their need to divert attention to the marketing, advertising and sales of their creations. I wanted to assist these people and created CustomMade.com to help.” We also believe that there are a ton of consumers out there interested in buying Custom, but they don’t know where to start…our site will help both makers and consumers to bridge the frictions that exist in this marketplace and will help them to get in touch with each other.
Question 2: How did you get your start?
indiDenim: Our “About Us” section of our site really says it best: “In our eyes, the way clothing is sold is an anachronism. The current system of mass produced, standard sized clothing is convenient for the companies selling the apparel, but doesn’t work all that well for a lot of consumers. We founded indi to change all that - rather than individual consumers of all shapes and sizes trying to fit into standard sized clothing, we think consumers ought to be able to get exactly what they want in a size that fits them.”
CustomMade: Custom Made started with one artisan working out of his home fourteen years ago as an online community for woodworkers to come together and post their custom creations online. In 2009, co-founders Mike Salguero and Seth Rosen saw the potential such an organization had and purchased the company, gave it a new look and feel, and started to change the way custom was looked at by artisans and consumers alike. Within a year, a community of 350 woodworkers has grown to over 1,000 of the highest caliber woodworkers,metal workers, and glass workers in the world.
Question 3: What are some of the challenges you face as a custom company?
indiDenim: Fit is very personal, and understanding the perfect fit for our customers is definitely a challenge. Because we’re custom we set the bar pretty high in terms of fit, just like our consumers. In fact, we guarantee that if for any reason our customers aren’t 100% satisfied, we’ll remake their garment at no charge or give them a full refund. Although this can be challenging, we absorb these costs willingly, knowing that we instill confidence in our customers that the end result will be a perfect-fitting garment that they can always re-order, time and time again.
CustomMade: Our biggest issues right now are related to getting the right people involved with our company.. We currently have 25 people working full-time on this idea, but we need more. We are always looking for marketing, web-design and development, and salespeople. In addition, we have a challenge of convincing consumers to buy custom.. You would think it is a no-brainer, since they can get something locally made, handcrafted, with 5x the quality for a similar price, but the big-box retailers dominate the advertising out there, so it is hard for the little guy to compete.
Question 4: What are your focuses/strong points at the present?
indiDenim: indi provides an ideal shopping experience for the tech-savvy consumer. Our Jean Builder lets consumers see a real-time visualization of their jean change as they pick every style feature of their jean. Consumers can also save their designs in our community vault, where consumers can share designs via social media networks and/or choose any jean from the vault, customize it to fit them, and buy it. We also save our customers’ patterns forever, allowing them to re-order the same pattern with or without adjustments and get a perfect fit, every time. In short, indi provides the most personalized, technologically-advanced experience available, making mass customization fun and easy.
CustomMade: We have a group of the best artisans in the country in the fields of woodworking, glass working and metalworking. These guys and gals are being serviced by our website. We also bring in about 1 Million visitors a year and expose them to the idea of purchasing custom, which is fun and a challenge, but we feel that we do it well!
Question 5: What is your vision for the future of the company?
indiDenim: We intend to get to know our consumers more and more, developing more style content on our site that would interest our audience. We recently launched new style pages and a DenimWiki, packed with useful information on denim history, mass customization, a glossary of denim terminology, and more. We will continue to understand our consumers’ needs from a user experience standpoint, but also a product standpoint, always striving to ensure our patterns fit every consumer perfectly.
CustomMade: We want to be the internet’s one stop shop for anything custom. We are not interested in the manufacturing, rather we want to get you the consumer in front of the right provider of custom services.
Thank you to Custommade.com for participating in this interview! Let us know your feedback and feel free to share your comments!
posted by: evan on August 10, 2010 at 12:26 pm
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